Bio

HOCHSTEIN AT A GLANCE:• An 11th-year offensive guard who has started 41 games at five different positions during his NFL career with Denver (2009-10), New England (2002-08) and Tampa Bay (2001-02).• Provided versatility along the offensive front for Denver in 2010, opening four games at left guard and making one start each at right guard and tight end.• Owns 17 career starts at left guard, 10 starts at center, nine starts at right guard, three starts at tight end and two starts at fullback in 137 total games played.• Played all 16 games for the Patriots in 2007, helping New England post the NFL’s first-ever 16-0 regular-season record en route to advancing to Super Bowl XLII.• Saw time in 36 of a possible 38 games, including six starts, on the Patriots’ back-to-back Super Bowl-champion teams from 2003-04.• Earned All-Big 12 Conference honors three times for the University of Nebraska playing right guard.• Joined the Broncos in a trade from New England on Aug. 25, 2009.• Selected by Tampa Bay in the fifth round (151st overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft.

HOCHSTEIN AT A GLANCE:• An 11th-year offensive guard who has started 41 games at five different positions during his NFL career with Denver (2009-10), New England (2002-08) and Tampa Bay (2001-02).• Provided versatility along the offensive front for Denver in 2010, opening four games at left guard and making one start each at right guard and tight end.• Owns 17 career starts at left guard, 10 starts at center, nine starts at right guard, three starts at tight end and two starts at fullback in 137 total games played.• Played all 16 games for the Patriots in 2007, helping New England post the NFL’s first-ever 16-0 regular-season record en route to advancing to Super Bowl XLII.• Saw time in 36 of a possible 38 games, including six starts, on the Patriots’ back-to-backSuper Bowl-champion teams from 2003-04.• Earned All-Big 12 Conference honors three times for the University of Nebraska playing right guard.• Joined the Broncos in a trade from New England on Aug. 25, 2009.• Selected by Tampa Bay in the fifth round (151st overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Signed by Tampa Bay as a draft choice 7/18/01; Waived by Tampa Bay 9/18/02; Signed by Tampa Bay 9/24/02; Waived by Tampa Bay 9/30/02; Signed by Tampa Bay (practice squad) 10/2/02; Waived by Tampa Bay 10/15/02; Signed by New England (practice squad) 10/21/02; Signed by New England (active roster) 11/16/02; Waived by New England 8/31/03; Signed by New England (practice squad) 9/2/03; Signed by NewEngland (active roster) 9/13/03; Traded to Denver 8/25/09; Placed on injured reserve (knee) by Denver 12/29/09.

Quickly: Hochstein is an 11th-year offensive guard who played in 15 games for the Broncos in 2011, mostly on special teams. He was called upon to fill in for injured G Chris Kuper in Week 17 against Kansas City. Hochstein started 41 games at five different positions during his NFL career with Denver (2009-10), New England (2002-08) and Tampa Bay (2001-02). He provided versatility along the offensive front for Denver in 2010, opening four games at left guard and making one start each at right guard and tight end. He owns 17 career starts at left guard, 10 starts at center, nine starts at right guard, three starts at tight end and two starts at fullback in 136 total games played. He played all 16 games for the Patriots in 2007, helping New England post the NFL’s first-ever 16-0 regular-season record en route to advancing to Super Bowl XLII.

2010: Hochstein played all 16 games (6 starts) for Denver, opening four contests at three different positions (LG, RG, TE) along the offensive front.

2009: Hochstein, who was acquired by Denver in a trade from New England on Aug. 25, played 15 games with a career-high 10 starts for the Broncos at three different positions (8 at left guard, 1 at right guard, 1 at tight end)... Also saw time at fullback in goal-line situations... Placed on injured reserve with a knee injury on Dec. 29... Started at right guard in the season opener at Cin. (9/13)... Started vs. Dal. (10/4) as well as in Games 9-15 at left guard... Opened Denver’s contest vs. Pit. (11/9) at tight end.

2008: Hochstein played in the final 15 games (2 starts at fullback) for New England... Helped the Patriots total 351 rushing yards in their final two games... Saw time at center, right guard and tight end during the year.

2007: Hochstein played all 16 games with eight starts (7 at right guard, 1 at center) for the Patriots, helping them post the NFL’s first-ever 16-0 regular-season record and advance to Super Bowl XLII... Saw time in all three postseason games, including the Super Bowl vs. NYG (2/3)... Helped New England set single-season league records for points (589) and touchdowns (75) while allowing its fewest sack total (21) for a 16-game season in club history.

2006: Hochstein played 13 games (0 starts) for New England during the regular season and saw time in all three playoff games for the club.

2005: Hochstein played all 16 games for New England and opened its final seven regular-season games at center... Started at center during the Patriots’ two playoff contests... Helped New England total at least 130 rushing yards in four of his seven regular-season starts.

2004: Hochstein saw time in all 16 games (2 starts) for the first time in his career with New England, helping the Patriots win Super Bowl XXXIX... Started the final two games at left guard... Saw time in all three playoff games with one start at tight end in the AFC Championship Game at Pit. (1/23).

2003: Hochstein played 14 regular-season games (1 start) for New England after being signed from its practice squad on Sept. 13 and helped the Patriots to a win in Super Bowl XXXVIII... Made his NFL starting debut at left guard at Was. (9/28)... Saw time in all three playoff games (2 starts), starting at left guard in the AFC Championship Game vs. Ind. (1/18) and in Super Bowl XXXVIII vs. Car. (2/1).

2002: Hochstein split his second NFL season with Tampa Bay and New England, seeing time in two games for the year... Contributed on special teams in the Buccaneers’ season opener vs. N.O. (9/8) and saw time on their practice squad before he was waived on Oct. 15... Signed by New England to its practice squad on Oct. 21 and was added to their active roster on Nov. 16 before playing at right guard and on special teams vs. Min. (11/24).

2001: Selected by Tampa Bay in the fifth round (151st overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft, Hochstein was listed as inactive for all 16 games and one playoff contest for the Buccaneers.

COLLEGE: Hochstein was a three-year starter at right guard at the University of Nebraska, where he registered 342 career knockdown blocks and received All-Big 12 Conference honors for three consecutive seasons... Earned first-team All-America honors from The Sporting News and was a consensus all-conference selection as a senior in 2000... Named the recipient of the Cletus Fischer Native Son award, given annually to the top college football player in the state of Nebraska.

PERSONAL: Hochstein played on the defensive line and at middle linebacker at Cedar Catholic High School in Hartington, Neb., where he garnered All-America honors from Blue Chip Illustrated... Totaled 309 career tackles, 18 sacks, eight fumble recoveries and two interceptions during his prep career... Earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Nebraska... Russ Hochstein was born on Oct. 7, 1977, in Hartington, Neb.